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**THE CHOSEN Season 4 Continues Filming amid Hollywood Strikes**
**While Hollywood is at a Standstill, THE CHOSEN Keeps Going**
The ongoing labor strikes by the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and the Writers Guild of America (WGA) have brought most of Hollywood’s productions to an indefinite stop. However, amidst the chaos, there is one show that continues to film: **The Chosen**. This historical drama series about Jesus Christ, created by Dallas Jenkins, is reportedly unaffected by the strikes as it is not associated with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP).
**SAG-AFTRA Grants Exemption to THE CHOSEN**
According to entertainment industry trade **Deadline**, SAG-AFTRA has granted an exemption to **The Chosen** that allows the show to continue shooting its fourth season. This exemption is given because the show is considered a “truly independent” production. These reports come after the trade publication faced criticism for misrepresenting an actor’s thoughts about the strike, which they later apologized for.
**Creator Expresses Doubt and Frustration**
Just before the SAG strike officially began, Dallas Jenkins, the creator of **The Chosen**, expressed doubt about the show being granted an exemption. He voiced frustrations over the lack of response from SAG-AFTRA, stating that the union’s silence was costing the production hundreds of thousands of dollars and impacting the livelihood of the cast and crew.
**Positive Developments for THE CHOSEN**
Despite the initial uncertainty, the exemption for **The Chosen** was eventually approved on Sunday, allowing full filming to resume. While SAG-AFTRA and the show have not released official statements regarding the exemption, it is noteworthy that **The Chosen** is the first ongoing project to secure a production pass due to its independence from the AMPTP.
**SAG-AFTRA Grants “Interim Agreements” to Independent Producers**
As the strike took effect, SAG-AFTRA announced that it planned to grant “Interim Agreements” to independent producers who are not part of the AMPTP. However, the terms of these agreements have yet to be made public. **The Chosen**, which began as an independently produced short film and later became a crowdfunded series by Angel Studios, appears to fit the criteria for such an agreement.
**The Chosen’s Journey from Indie to Mainstream**
**The Chosen** started as a freely available series through an official app but has since gained distribution deals with Lionsgate and appeared on platforms like Amazon, Netflix, Peacock, and The CW. As the fourth season of the show continues filming amid the strikes, it raises questions about the fate of other productions and their potential return as the strike persists.
**Conclusion**
The ongoing labor strikes in Hollywood have caused significant disruptions to the industry, with productions coming to a halt. However, **The Chosen** stands out as a unique case, continuing its fourth season’s filming due to its independence from the AMPTP. While the exemption for the show has been granted, the impact of the strikes on the wider industry is yet to be fully seen. As viewers and industry insiders observe the situation, it remains uncertain how long the strikes will last and what the repercussions will be for other productions.
*Disclosure: The Verge’s editorial staff is also unionized with the Writers Guild of America, East.*
